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MENTAL MODEL · M3334

Siege Mentality

Siege Mentality
BehaviorHigh supportSocial Psychology
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-31

CORE DEFINITION

A psychological state in which a group, feeling isolated, threatened, or persecuted by the outside world, develops extreme unity, xenophobia, and even paranoia.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

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Defensive cohesion. If you want to instantly unite a team, create an external enemy (even imaginary). But the side effect is rigid groupthink and inability to accept external information. This is a highly toxic bonding agent.

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The 'Siege Mentality' originates from the novel 'Fortress Besieged': those outside want to charge in, those inside want to escape. It metaphorically refers to the common psychology of longing for what one does not have and feeling weary of what one possesses, a cycle of 'the grass is greener on the other side'.

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_mentalityZH · Explicit
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